"Actually, I grew up in Chicago, but I've been to New York a number of times," he says, then adds with a smile, "and no, they don't call it the subway. Most of the time I spent there was before I knew about any of this, trips with my parents or with friends, before I got recruited. It's an interesting city to begin with, but after you add that in..."

He gestures with his wine glass and takes another sip. It's clear he enjoys talking about this. The culture of it all is what draws him, this extra layer of life just below the surface. "There are vampires with lofts on fifth avenue hosting parties for the rich and famous, halfway houses that are actually covens made up of poor kids who don't have anywhere else to go... I went to a night club once on business and found out that it was completely owned and operated by werewolves. No one gets away with anything when the bouncers are actually wolves."